Method oe and apparatus for the distillation of carbonaceous materials



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METHOD OF AND APPARATQS FOR THE. DISTILLATION 0F CARBONAGEOUS MATERIALS. APPLICAT|0N FILED JUNE 30. 1920.

1 ,437 Patented Now 28, 1922.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

r By

E. D. DEETER. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION 0F CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS.

APPLECATION FILED JUNE 30, I920.

Patent ed Nev. 28, 1922.

mam a 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATLON 0F CARBONAGEOUS MATERIALS,

APPUCATION FILED JUNE 30. 1920.

Patented Nov. 2 8, 1922.

' UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD DAVID DEETER, OF MIAMI, NEW MEXICO.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS.

Application filed June 30, 1920. Serial No. 392,932.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD DAVID Dnn- TER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Miami, county of Colfax, and State of New Mexico, have invented a new and Improved Method ofand Apparatus for the Distillation of carbonaceous Materials, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a method of distilling' carbonaceous materials, especially materials which are solid orsemi-solid in character.

It further relates to an apparatus for carrying out the aforementioned method.

In the distillation of carbonaceous materials such as shale, coal, peat, wood, and the like it is important that a certain amount of cracking be accomplished in order to split up the heavy, tarry, bodies into lighter and more valuable compounds. This cracking' is better accomplishedwhen volatile substances such as steam are introduced into the material while it is heated, the steam serving to breakup the heavy tarry bodies, and also combining with the hot free carbon in the material to make a water gas according to the following reaction: v

C+II2O:CO+H2 Thus the residue from the distillation process contains very little or no free carbon, and said carbon is in the form of water gas which is returned from the condenser and is burned in the distillation apparatus, thus in many cases in the distillation of oil shale, serving to supply all the fuel necessary for the distillation process. It is also desirable and in the case of shale, where iarge quantities of material must be handled for the oil obtained, to have the operation continuous so that the expense of iandling will be reduced to a minimum;

An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an apparatus of the class indicated which will be continuous in operation, thereby reducing the expense of distilling carbonaceous materials to a minimum.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus in which a considerable amount of cracking is obtained in order to obtain distillates having light weight and valuable compounds.

A still further object of this invention is to introduce steam or other volatile substances into the carbonaceous material as it is heated so that all the free carbon will be removed from the residue to form water gas, said water gas serving as a more or less sufficient fuel to maintain the distillation process.

Reference'is to be had to the accompany ing drawings forming a part of this specification, in which it is understood that the drawings illustrate only one form of the invention, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved apparatus with parts broken away to disclose the construction.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the apparatus on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on a large scale through the apparatus on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure i is a fragmentary sectional view on a large scale taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the apparatus with parts broken away to disclose the construction.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view on a large scale of the heating plates of the apparatus.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on a large scale taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view on a large scale on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 10 indicates a cylindrical and vertical furnace wall which is preferably made of fire brick or other suitable material. An inner cylindrical furnace wall 11 is positioned inside the wall 10 and concentric therewith, also being made of fire brick. An inner ring of furnace plates 12, each plate having radial edges, is supported with its inner edge imbedded in the furnace wall 11 and its outer ed e restin on brackets 13. b '1 An outer ring of furnace plates 14 is supported on its outer edge by imbedding same inthe furnace wall 10, and on its inner edge by the brackets 13. While I have illustrated two rings of. plates 12 and 14:. any number of rings may be used so that the total plate area in the furnace will be of any desired size. The plates 12 and 1 may preferably but not necessarily be made of cast metal with cast ribs 15 on their lower face which will support the plates and prevent same from buckling while. hot. At the joint be tween the plates 12 and 14 which is supported by the brackets 13, an offset shoulder 16 may be provided on the plate 12 which receives the outer edge of the plate 14, and a tion process. A plurality of gas burners 21.

fire proof gasket 17 may be used between the shoulder 16 and the plate 14, said gasket and said plates 12 and 14 being held securely together by bolts18.

The brackets 13 serve ,to position the plates 12 and 14 at a short distance above process and these are preferably used as fuel and such gases may be sufficient or more than sufficient to support the dlstillaare arranged in any suitable manner. in the fire box 20, and the gas together with the necessary amount of an. is introduced into said burners 21 through a gas ma1n 22.

Thus the plates 12 and 14 are. heated very hot andthe volatile matter in any carbonaceousmaterial placed on said plates will be distilled off.

In order to collect the volatile vapors from -.thecarbonaceous material on the plates12 and 14, the outer wall 10 is somewhat higher than the inner wall 11, and an annular apron 23 is supported on the outer wall 10', the inner edge of said apron being connected to the larger end of a frusto-conical collector 24, the axis of said collector 24being vertical. A vapor line 25 is connected to the upper end of the collector 24 and conveys the volatilized matter to a condensing apparatus of the type usually used in theartt It'is desired to continuously introduce the carbonaceous material on to the plates 12 and 14, and to continuously with;

draw the residue from the distillation process from said plates. For this purpose a chute 26 is enlarged to form a cylindrical chamber 27 and a shaft 28 is rotatably and laterally positioned in said chamber, being supported by the ends thereof. The. lower end of the chamber 27 terminates in a chute 29 which is connected to the apron 23 so positioned that the carbonaceous material will fall directly on the plates12 and 14.

It is necessary to introduce the carbonaceous material on to the plates 12 and 14 so that noneof the products of distillation will bedriven out through the chute 29, and for this purpose I provide adrum 30 which is secured to the shaft 28 inside the chamber 27. A plurality of shovels 31 are provided on one end with outstanding cars 32, and on the otherend with laterally extending arms 33. The distance betweenthe cars 32 and the arms 33 is equal to the length of the drum .30, and each of the cars 32 is pivoted to one end of the drum 30 by means of pins- 34, while the arms 33 are pivoted to the other end of the drum 30by means of pins 35. The shovels 31 are arcuate in cross section and have a radius'such that when folded against the drum 30, they will fit snugly against theoutside surface of said drum. A cam plate 36 is secured to the end of the chamber 27' opposite the arms 33 by bolts 37, and a cam slot 38 having one radius is formed'in the inside face of said plate 36, while a cam slot 39 having a smaller radius than the cam slot 38 is also formed in said plate 36 opposite the slot 38, and said cam slots 38 and 39 are connected by oblique slots 40 and 41. A roller 42 is rotatably mounted on the inside end of each arm 33, said rollers beingadapted to engage the cam slots in the plate 36 so that the shovels 31 will be suitablyrocked about their pivots 34 and An annular offset recess 43 isprovided in'the inner face of the plate 36 in order to accommodate the arms 33 and the end of the chamber 27 adjacent the cars 32 has an offset portion 44 adapted to bear flush against the end of the drum 30 so as to prevent the passage of valuable vapors into the chute 26. Thus when the shaft 28 is rotated, the cam slot 39 will hold the shovels 31 in a folded position against the drum 30, while the cam slot 38 will hold the",shovels 31 outwardly in an unfolded position so as to receive the carbonaceous material from the chute 26 and deliver same to the chute-29.

A hopper 45 is-provided to receive the carbonaceous material which is to be. distilled, and a screw conveyor 46 is positioned in the bottom of the hopper 45 being secured to a shaft47. One end of the shaft 47 is mounted in a bearing '48, and the other end of the shaft 47 is secured in bearings 49, each of which has an outer 'rim 50 fixed to the inside of a cylindrical shell 51 so that as the shell 51 is rotated,.the shaft 47 is also rotated thereby. The hopper 45 is mounted on suitable frame work 52 so that the axis of the shaft 47 will be inclined to the horizontal as will also be the axis of the cylindrical shell 51.

I The cylindrical shell 51 is provided with inside longitudinal mixing metal strips 51 and U-shaped collars 53 at each end, each of whichissupported by rollers 54 mounted in suitable bearings 55 so that the shell 51 is rotatably supported by said rollers, and said rollers also prevent axial movement of said shell. An annular bevel gear 56 is secured around the shell. 51 between the collars 53 and a bevel pinion57 meshes with said bevel gear 56. The bevel pinion 57 is secured to a shaft 58 and said shaft is mounted in suitable bearings 59 supported on frame work '60. A pulley 61. is also secured to the shaft 58 and is adapted to be-connected by a belt not shown to any source of power such as an 'en ine or motor.

on to the plates 12 and 14, a mechanism is provided which constantly moves the carbonaceous materials around said plates. 'This mechanism consists of a vertical shaft 62 which is rotatably supported at its base by a rollerbearing 63, and at its upper end by a bearing 6 1 in the collector 2 1, and also a bearing 65 on frame work 66. A bevel gear 67 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 62, said gear meshing with a'bevel pinion 68 secured to a horizontal shaft 69. The shaftis rotatably mounted in bearings 70 on the frame work 66, and a pulley 71 is mounted on the end of said shaft 69 opposite the bevel pinion 68. A pulley 72 is mounteo on the shaft 58 and a belt 73 connects the pulley 71 with the pulley 72. A collar 74 is secured to the lower end of the shaft-62 above the roller bearings 63, and a plurality of horizontal radial arms 75 are secured to said collar 7%. These arms '75 extend outwardly vover the plates 12 and 14, and rakes '76 are secured to said arms so that as the shaft 62 is rotated by the belt 73, the rakes 7 6 will move the carbonaceous material along the plates 12 and 1 as it drops from the chute 29 so as to thoroughly mix said material and expose it to the heat of said plates. The arms 75 are supported by oblique braces 77 extending from a collar 78 on the shaft 62.

After the material has been moved around the plates 12 and 14 by the rakes 76, and has undergone the distillation process, the residue falls into an opening 79 in said plates and on to an endless conveyor 80 mounted on a shaft 81. This conveyor 80 leads outwardly from under the furnace wall 10 and the outer end is mounted on a suitable sprocketwheel 82 secured to a horizontal shaft 83.

The horizontal shaft 83 is provided on one end with a bevel gear meshing with abevel pinion 85 mounted on a vertical shaft 86, and a bevel gear 8? is mounted on tie upper end of said shaft, meshing with a bevel pinion. 88 secured to shaft 89 whose axis is parallel to the axis of the shell 51. The shaft 89 is suitably mounted on frame work 90 and a sprocket wheel 91 is secured to said shaft. A chain 92 leads from the sprocket wheel 91 to a large sprocket collar 93 secured to the outside of the shell 51 sothat as said shell rotates, the endless conveyor 80 will remove the res due and deliver it to cars 94 which will convey the worthless residue to a suitable dumping ground.

In order to inject steam into the material as it raked around by the rakes 76, 1 pro- The abutting radial edges of the plates 12 and 14; are provided with alternate oil: shoulders 99 which are adaoted to receive -e adjacentedges of the adjacent slates. ll nre proof gasket 100 is provided between the plates and the shoulders 99, said gasket being held in place by bolts 101. A. steam pipe 102 passes longitudinally through the ribs 15 of said plates, and is connected to the steam pipe 98 by branch steam pipes 103. Pipes 10 1 lead from the pipe 102 and extend through the gasket 1.00 to an obli lie slot 105 formed between the radial edges 4 each pair of plates so that carbonaceous mate 'ial is raked along. the steam will shoot up obliquely from said slot 105 so as to mix thoroughly with the material and also aid in its propulsion in the proper direction. The coil may also be used as a superheater if steam is injected into the pipe 96.

In order to preheat the material as it is mixed in the shell 51, a line 106 is provided on the outside of the wall 10, said flue being connected at its upper end to the chute 26. An opening 10? is provided in the side of the wall 10 connecting the fire box 0 with said flue and the chute 26 is made to closely lit the lower end of the shell 51. Thus the hot flue gases will pass out through the opening 10?, the flue 106 into the chute 26, through the shell 51 where it will preheat the carbonaceous material. and on 'through the upper end of said shell 51.

In operation the material is introduced into the hopper l5 and the screw conveyor 46 forces the material into the rotating shell 51 where it is thoroughly mixed by the mining metal strips 51, dropping into the chute 26. The chute 26 conveys the carbonaceous material on to the shovels 31 which are pivotally mounted on the drum 30, and as said drum 30 rotates, the shovels will deliver the carbonaceous material to the chute 29 which is positioned directly over the plates 12 and 14. The carbonaceous material falling on to these plates is raked around by the rakes 76 mounted on the shaft 62, and the plates are heated by the gas burners 21 in the fire box 20. The volatile products from the carbonaceous material passes out through the collector 2s and the pipe 25 to suitable condensing apparatus. Steam is generated or preheated in the coils and passes through the pipe 98, the pipes 103, 102, and 10 1- obliquely up through the slot 105 where it i J i as t e miyes with the carbonaceous material as it is raked along by the rakes 76.

The residue from the distillation process falls into the opening 79 and on to the endless conveyor 80 which deposits said residue in the cars 941, said cars removing the residue to a dumping ground. The shell 51 is rotated by the bevel pinion 5T engaging the bevel gear 56, said bevel pinion being mounted on the power shaft 58 rotated from some source of power by a belt engaging the pulley 61 on said shaft 58. A belt 73 connecting pulleys 71 and 72 on the shafts 69 and 58, respectively, drives said shaft 69 and the shaft .32 is driven by a bevel pinion 68 on shaft 69, said bevel pinion meshing with bevel gear 37. The shaft 83 supporting the endless cimveyor S0 is driven through bevel gears 84:, sl "t bevel. gears 87, and S8, shaft 89, sprociret wheel 91, and chain 92 leading to sprocket wheel 93 on the shell 51. The hot products of combustion or flue gases pass out through the opening 107 from the fire box 20 through the flue 106 to the chute 26 up through the carbonaceous material in the shell 51 as said material mixed and out tl'irough the upper end of said shell.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated. example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not limit n'iyself strictly to the mechanical details herein illustrated, since manifestly the same can be considerably varied without departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a pair of concentric spaced walls, a division wall supported therebetween adapted to form a heating chamber therebeneath,

means for introducing a heating agent into said heating chamber, a housing extending from the outer wall and adapted to form a top closure therefor to serve as a collecting chamber, means whereby material may be fed upon the partition wall, means whereby said material may be moved over the en tire surface of said partition wall and ischarged through an opening therein, a tubular coil-supported in the heating chamber having its one end connected to a source of water supply and its other end connected to a co duit extending entirely about the conccnt 1c walls, and pipe extensions from the last named conduit whereby steam generated withinthe coil may be introduced directly beneath the material when passed over the partition wall.

An apparatus for the distillation of materials, which comprises an annular heating chamber, a conical hood completely covering said chamber, a cylindrical feeding passage connected to said hood from said chamber, a rotating drum disposed at the lower end of said feeding passage, means for rotating said drum, a plurality of bladelnre shovels connected to the periphery of said drum, said shovels during a portion of the rotation of the drum being extended to the edge of the feeding casing whereby the material therein is moved along by said shovels, said shovels when extended sub-.

stantially closing the opening between the heating chamber and the feeding passage,

and cam-means associated with: said drum to dispose the shovels flat against the surface of i l e drum duringa portionof their stroke when they arenot in action.

B. Inan apparatus of the character described, a pair of concentric spaced walls, the outermost wall being of greater height than the innermost wall, a housing supported by the outermost wall adapted to form a collecting chamber about said walls and said housing being in spaced relation with the top of the innermost concentric wall, a di vision wall supported between the concentric walls adapted to form a heating chamber, and said division wall having an opening through which material may be discharged, means for introducing a heating agent of combustible materials into said heating chamber a rotatable drum-whereby material may be mixed, means at the discharge end of said drum whereby the mixed material may be deposited upon the partition wall under exclusion of atmosphere, means whereby said material may be caused to pass entirely over the division wall and its residue brought to drop through the opening in said division wall, and means whereby the hot gases in said heating chamber may be permitted to pass through the mixing drum to give the material a pre-heating before being deposited upon the partition wall.

4. In an apparatus for the distillation of carbonaceous material, a retort, a rotatable cylindrical shell positioned with its axis inclined to the horizontalpmeans for introducing material into the upper end of said shell, and a rotatable element associated with the lower end of said shell adapted to deliver the material from said shell into the retort, said rotatable element being also adapted to prevent the passage of vapors evolved in said retort through said shell.

5. In an apparatus forthe distillation of carbonaceous material, a retort having a division wall to provide a distillation chamber and a heating chamber beneath said distillation chamber, a rotatable cylindrical shell positioned with its axis inclined to the horizontal and adapted to deliver material to the distillation chamber of the retort, means for rotating said shell, a rotatable element associated with the lower end of said shell adapted to deliver material from lower end of said shell to the distillation chamber of the retort, said. rotating element being also adapted to prevent the passage of vapors evolved in the distillation chamber of said retort through said shell, means for removing vapors from the distillation chamber of the retort, and means for conducting heated gas from the heating chamber of the retort into said cyllndrical shell for pre-heating the material being treated.

EDWARD DAVID DEETER. 

